The pensioner who set off from his home in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, made a small typing error on his GPS that left him over 1,000 miles away from the Vatican City.
Police said he was on a pilgrimage to the holy city.
Upon arriving in the small West German town without an Italian landmark in site, the man's trip took another unexpected turn as he stepped out of his Jaguar without securing the handbrake.
The open door knocked him over before the car continued to roll back into a signpost marked 'Rom'.
An ambulance was called to check on the pensioner.
According to police, the car came to a halt after hitting the sign, but did not appear to be badly damaged.
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